Dan's Papers - April 17, 2009

When you think of skin care, you think of how your skin reacts to different climates and environments. The Winter skin is usually dry, red, rough and in dire need of extra care. Summer skin is usually dry, sunburned, and also in need of extra care. That tells us that it is a year-round battle with the elements to keep our skin clean and in perfect condition, as well as keeping our body clean and happy. Using body washes that are natural and nourishing keeps our skin looking good and holds back the aging process.

Primarily, premature aging is caused by exposure to the sun without protection. There are so many ways to protect yourself from everything out there that can attack the body and face and keep it young and vibrant. Wearing sun block daily controls this problem. The number one rule is to not smoke. The nicotine just clogs up your pores, turns it brownish in color, causes wrinkles and age spots, and leads to premature aging.

Washing your face and skin too often is also a no-no. It strips your skin of the natural oils and moisture, and tap water contains chlorine causing oxidative damage. Ditto for your hair also by the way. Twice a day face washing is just right, making sure that you use warm water, not hot water which dries out your skin. That goes for bath water too, warm water is more natural and agreeable to your skin.

Wearing a good pair of wrap around sunglasses protects the eyes as well as the very delicate skin that surrounds them. It is very important to check product labels making sure that they provide UVA and UVB protection.

Sleep? What do you think? Get as much as you can because while you are sleeping your body is in the repair and rejuvenation mode. Get a schedule together by applying your products one hour before bedtime allowing enough time for the product to penetrate and absorb into your skin. Never, ever retire for the night without removing your makeup. It is the worse thing and not natural for your skin, possibly reversing your anti-aging routine.

Now that we did the primary promises of good skincare, let's think of solutions and products. There are many types of treatments for the face and body that are offered in salons, spas, over the counter at pharmacies, major department stores and more. These include the rejuvenating facial, purifying facial, European oxygen facial, balancing, various peels and deep cleansing to the more invasive treatments such as laser dermabrasion. You should consult an experienced skin care expert about any condition that you may have. Sometimes, vitamins and antioxidants are needed for certain skin problems. We are talking simple fixes, not Botox, which is a medical treatment that must be done in a medical office with the supervision of a physician.

After researching several products, I chose some of the favorites with four-star ratings by actual users. Tea Tree Oil for Acne is an excellent product, affordable and can be purchased in most local pharmacies and health stores. On Tea Tree Oil: "I have very sensitive skin. This product goes on easily and leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean. Not only has it cleared up my skin, it has kept it clear." On Chella Skin Firming Serum: I am middle age so I will try anything! I am very glad I tried this product and look 10 years younger." You can get a free trial sample by logging onto chella.com/skinoffer/serumtrial.

You can feel the freshness of the Brazilian Rain Forest with the new Noah's Naturals, an affordable line of natural personal care products that just launched the new Acai Line. This age defying Brazilian super fruit is known for its exceptional skin-renewing benefits, leaving the skin healthy and rejuvenated. The new decadently scented line of body wash ($10.99), body cream ($10.99) and body polish ($12.99) contains acai berry extract. Combined with natural ingredients such as jojoba, shea butter and coconut oil, Noah's Naturals' Acai Body Care line leaves skin cleansed, moisturized and nourished, never using harsh chemicals, artificial colors or testing on animals. And there are two times more antioxidants than pomegranate and 10 times more antioxidants than red wine. Imagine that?

A complete line of hair, body and skin care products that are naturally good for you and the earth is available. The line includes Brazilian body wash, lotion and scrub, and is available at Walmart, other drugstores nationwide and online at noahsnaturals.com.